Involvement crucial to democratic health

Involvement crucial to democratic health

Monday marks the 220th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America by the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

This remarkable event and the struggles that preceded it set the democratic foundation upon which we rely today.

Even though we may argue about the details and interpretation of the Constitution, this document represents a model of statesmanship and compromise that is not only inspirational, but a living document that has proven to be lasting in its establishment of our enduring form of government.

All Americans need to remember the key ideals of the Constitution, including the establishment of the rule of law, personal freedoms, representative government, the separation of governmental powers into three branches that check and balance each other, with no one branch being above the rule of law.

Members of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, work to preserve and strengthen our system by encouraging informed and active participation in government, to increase understanding of major public policy issues and to influence public policy through education and advocacy.

We encourage all citizens to mark this day, to remember the importance of a concerned, involved body politic in keeping our country strong and dedicated to the ideals set forth by the framers of this great document.

For more information on the LWV of Geneva St. Charles e-mail info@lwvgenstc.org or visit www.lwvgenstc.org.

Kimberley Haag, president

League of Women Voters Geneva/St. Charles

Trucking another job we don't want?

Mexican trucks with Mexican truck drivers are now permitted to enter the U.S. and drive to any destination. These trucks are loaded at Mexican ports.

Mexican drivers are paid half or less than American drivers. Soon all deliveries in America will be cheaper by using Mexican drivers. American drivers will lose their jobs, homes and cars, not pay property taxes and then the government will say, "See? These are jobs Americans don't want."

Bin Laden said this week he has a message for the American people. Whatever his plans are, he can ship it into this country via Mexico.

Our government is building a NAFTA superhighway from the Mexican ports through the U.S. to Canada, and it is paid for by American taxpayers losing job after job. When it is far enough along, American longshoremen will lose their jobs to Mexicans unloading the ships, and there will be another group of jobs that the Americans don't want.

Our elected politicians want Americans to lose jobs and be lower paid. At a conference on maintaining American competitiveness earlier this year, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan offered a "solution."

"Our skilled wages are higher than anywhere in the world," he said. "If we open up a significant window for skilled workers, that would suppress the skilled-wage-level and end the concentration of income."

Our politicians should be proud because this policy is succeeding. We are losing jobs by the millions. Why doesn't anyone ask about this in the debates?

Robert Chmela

Elgin